Display container



29, 1938- R. H. ANDERSON 2,112,551

" DISPLAY CONTAINER Filed May 3, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet l ZI :ZZ

March 29, 1938. R. H. ANDERSON f 2,112,551

DISPLAY CONTAINER Filed May :5, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 29, 193.8. R H. ANDERSON 2,112,551

' DISPLAY CONTAINER l Filed May 3, 1934 Sheets-Sheet 3 ql i1 v 459.13. A/// /Z v :a 1/

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Patented Mar. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES staar oFF-Ice 2 Claims.

This invention relates to containers for display purposes.

By way of brief preliminary reference to the invention it might be explained that the same is especially adapted for use in the display of cakes and other articles of trade, and it will be found that the same embodies an article supporting tray which may be raised from time to time as the articles are taken out of the container and which, at the same time, may be tilted at a desired angle for the advantageous display of the contents of the container.

A further feature of the invention will be found to reside in the adaptability of the invention to standard containers for particular articles, so that the adaption of the invention does not necessarily involve a departure from established article handling means except, so far as the nature of the invention itself requires.

Another attribute of the invention resides in the extreme simplicity, comparative strength and relatively low cost of manufacture of the means by which the articles are raised from time to time an-d by which the same are more advantageously displayed.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a container embodying the invention, parts being broken away,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on t line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken at right angles to Figure 2 and illustrating the article containing tray in a raised and inclined position,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective of a tray embodied in the invention,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a detail sectional View taken on line 6 5 of Figure 4,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional perspective illustrating the means by which the tray may be held in a desired position,

Figure 8 is a detail horizontal sectional View taken on line 8-8 of Figure 7,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary perspective illustrating a slight modification of the invention,

Figure 10 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating another expression of the invention,

Figure 11 is a fragmentary side elevation partly (C1. zoe-i4) in section, illustrating a still further modification of the invention,

Figure 12 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating a further modification of the invention,

Figure 13 is a vertical sectional view taken on line I3-l3 of Figure 12,

Figure 14 is a detailed transverse sectional view taken substantially at right angles to Figure 13,

Figure l5 is a Vfragmentary perspective of the construction shown in Figures 1,2 to 14 inclusive.

In the drawings, the numeral Il) generally designates a container which may, of course, be of any preferred or required shape, square, oval, round or otherwise, without in any manner departing from the invention -By the same token, it is clear that the invention is capable of expression in connection with containers for a wide variety of products and articles, shapes or the like. For this reason, it is to be understood that although the invention is -described for special use in connection with cakes, it may be carried out in connection with a wide variety of products.

As shown in Figures l and 2, the container l@ is provided with a cover or lid l2 having a depending flange I4 more or less snugly receiving the upper portion of the container and, of course,` both the container and the lid I2 may be of any suitable material such, for example, as cardboard. By reference to Figure 2, it will be seen that the lid is provided-with a Window i6 aifording a view of the contents of the container.

AThe invention forming the subject of this application contemplates the employment of a tray I8 sli-dably fitting within the container with sufficient freedom to allow the same to be moved up and down depending upon the quantity of articles within the container and it will be seen that the tray is provided with upstanding side walls defining any article retaining means.

Attention is now invited to Figure 4 in which it is illustrated that the tray I8, and more particularly oppositely located upstanding side walls thereof are provided with pairs of slots or notches 20 angled in from opposite edges of the tray for the reception of a lifting cable 22.

The cables 22, of which there are two, are preferably formed from single lengths of iiexible and suitably stout cord joined at their ends to form loops with the sides of the loops thus formed extended through the notches or slots 2l] at spaced points, of course, and converging in the direction of the upper end of the container.

More specifically, the sides of the circle loops 22 are extended over the upper end of the container Ill at oppositely located sides thereof and are curved through apertures 26 in the depending lips 28 at the upper portion of the container.

Those portions of the cable 22 extended beyond and below the openings 26 form a simple tying means by which the cable may be fastened to retaining elements 30. In this connection attention is invited to Figure 7 in which it is illustrated that the retaining elements 30 are preferably in the nature of disks having oppositely located inwardly directed attaching staples 32 passed through the sides of the container to securely fasten the members 30 in place.

It will be seen that the striking end of the attaching elements 32 defines oppositely located notches in the disks 30 and it is in these notches that the cord or cable is fastened.

It is believed to be clear that the several cables 22 may be secured to the fastening elements 33 in a highly convenient and expeditious manner, holding the tray in either a horizontal or inclined position, this being determined, of course, by the relative positions of the cable.

Thus., from time to time, as the contents of the container are removed by sale or otherwise, the tray is raised to bring the contents or more particularly the level of the contents, close to the upper end or top of the container and if desired, the tray may be inclined slightly for the most advantageous view of the cakes or the like, through the window I6.

, The extreme simplicity of the invention lends the invention to ready incorporation in standard display containers or boxes without otherwise departing from established means of handling articles in trade.

It will be recognized that the manner of connecting the cables provides for the generous distribution of the load on the tray and the cable, attention in this regard being invited to the fact that the cables extend beneath substantial portions of the tray and thus have rm supporting engagement therewith. This is true because the sides of the cables extend through the notches or slots 20 which, from Figure 4, will be seen to extend through the upstanding sides of the sides I8 at suitably spaced points.

In the form of invention illustrated in Figure 9, the tray is designated by the numeral 60 and is at, being without the upstanding side found on the tray I8. In this gure, the tray is provided at oppositely located ends or edge portions with apertures 62 through which the sides of the several cables 64 are slidably extended, and, like in the form of invention shown in Figures l to 8, the sides of the cables 64 converge and pass over the upper end portion of the container where the same are engaged by fastening elements 66 providing a simple means by which the tray may be employed to periodically lift the articles of food or the like, and hold the same in either a horizontal or inclined position.

In the slightly modified form of invention shown in Figure 10, the fastening element 10 is secured to the container by a rivet 'l2 and there is sufficient space between the member lil and the side wall of the container to provide for the fastening to the staple or rivet 12 of the several lengths of cable 14.

In the form of invention illustrated in Figure ii the tray 80 is provided with upstanding side walls having apertures B2 located at spaced points and having the end portions of the pairs of cables 84 connected thereto. That is to say, the ends of the several cables 84 are tied or otherwise secured through the openings 82 defining sides of the cables extended upwardly in converging relation and passing through apertures 86 in the side walls of the cover 90. In this form of invention, the portions of the cables are extended beyond the apertures 8E and are engaged with a fastening element 94, carried by the lid in this arrangement, of course, provides for the simple and expeditious raising of the tray from time to time when the occasion requires and for the tilting of the tray through the relative movement of the sides of the several cables providing for the most advantageous display of the articles carried on the tray, of whatever nature such articles may happen to be.

In the form of invention illustrated in Figs. 12-15 inclusive, the container is designated by the numeral 35D and is provided with a top 3B!! in the form of a rectangular frame bordering the body 351i and having a depending rectangular attaching lip 364.

As shown in Figures l2 and 13, the -cover 355 is hinged as indicated at 368 to the top 35B and may of course, be providedwith a glass portion affording a View of the contents of the box even when the cover is in the closed position.

From Figures 12 and 13' it will be apparent that the rectangular frame-like member 350 is provided at diametricaliy opposite points with openings 315 through which the sides of ti e flexible cables 38E! extend, the portions of the cable 38B which project above the frame Miti being adaptable for connection with tie posts 3.55. As shown in Figure 16, the posts 385 are in the nature of elongated spring elements secured intermediate the ends thereof to the rim or frame 385i while the terminal portions of such springs are extended upward for the convenient attachment of the cables 380.

By reference to Figure 13 it will be seen that the lower portions of the cables or the sides of the cables 3853 are secured at spaced points to the opposite sides of the tray 398 affording a means by which the tray may be raised from either side thereof or both sides thereof, to arrange the tray either horizontally or in an inclined .position for the most advantageous display of the goods located within the container.

That is to say, the sides of the cables may be drawn up co-extensively or the rear sides of each of the cables may be drawn up more than the forward sides of the cables affording a simple means by which the tray is located in the desired position of inclination.

The foregoing illustrates that the invention forming the subject of this application is capable of wide variety of mechanical expressions. For this reason, it is to be understood that the forms of invention herewith shown and described are to be taken merely as preferred examples of the same and that such minor changes in arrangement and construction of parts may be madeas will remain within the spirit of the invention and the scope of what is claimed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. In a display container, a body having an upper end portion provided with an outer integral depending lip, a tray slidably mounted within the body and being provided with spaced openings, cables passingy through said openings and having sides extended upwardly along the interior of the body and in converging relation, said lip being provided with apertures slidably receiving the said sides of the cables, and fasten ing elements secured to the body exteriorly thereof for engagement of those portions of the cables extended beyond said apertures in the lip.

2. In a display container, a body having an upper end portion provided With an outer integral depending lip, a tray slidably mounted Within the body and being provided With spaced openings, cables passing through said openings and having sides extended upwardly along the interior of the body and in converging relation, said lip being provided With apertures sidably receiving the said sides of the cables, fastening elements secured to the body exteriorly thereof for engagement of those portions of the cables extended beyond said apertures in the lip, a cover having a depending flange extending over said lip and concealing the openings in the lip.

ROY I-I. ANDERSON. 

